The BIG FIX Uganda Dog Hospital and Guest House Plot 297, Block 2, Koch Village, Gulu P. O. Box 566, Gulu, Uganda + 256 783 299 456 sas4dogs@yahoo.com www.thebigfixuganda.org Our Mission: To alleviate the suffering of animals, to improve the health and welfare of people and animals, and to promote good human-animal bonds. Following more than two decades of war, Northern Uganda emerged in economic devastation. More than a million people were displaced from their homes and forced to live in camps; children were abducted as rebel soldiers; people were murdered; and survival was demanding. The region remains challenged by the aftermath of the war era and the people and animals have suffered greatly. Due to severe poverty and lack of resources, veterinary care did not reach the villages of Northern Uganda. People were unable to adequately feed the growing populations of dogs and cats. The spread of diseases and the lack of education about animal kindness made the lives of dogs brief and painful. Since 2012, The BIG FIX Uganda has worked to improve the health and well-being of animals through veterinary service, animal welfare education, and development of the human-animal bond. During 2016, we opened Northern Uganda s first dog hospital, restructured our organization, and now look forward to serving more animals with good quality care. We are deeply appreciative of the many friends, donors, and volunteers who partnered with us during 2016.
Animal Health and Wellness Village Outreach Lines of dogs and their guardians wait at our village clinics to receive services for their dogs (above); Dr. Robert Omara administers treatment to a beloved puppy (left). During 2016, we treated 16,324 dogs and cats and performed 955 surgeries. We provided free veterinary services in 85 villages, traveling to many remote places accessible only by motorbike. Our care included rabies vaccination, de-worming, flea/tick treatment, spay/neuter, treatment of wounds and injuries, chemotherapy, and surgical excision of cancerous transmissible venereal tumors. In 2017, we will continue to hold mobile village field clinics eight days per month and we will reach 96 villages. Opening of The Dog Hospital During October, we officially opened the region s first veterinary hospital. The facility provides routine care, emergency services, and hospitalization. We also provide dog lodging which helps to generate income for our programs. We have three senior veterinary doctors working on rotation along with a junior veterinary doctor, a veterinary assistant, an administrator, and an animal caretaker. We ask people who are able to pay what they can afford for the services rendered. If families cannot afford to pay, we treat their animals for free. No one is turned away. Dogs Trust awarded The BIG FIX a grant to construct our dog hospital (left) and Guest House (right).
The Dogs Trust grant also funded construction of our dog lodging facility and purchase of our 2004 Toyota Hiace van. Animal Welfare Education During 2016, we visited 46 schools and reached 16,299 students and teachers with our animal kindness and rabies education program. We restructured our Animal Kindness Clubs and launched a new Art for Animals Project which uses art as a medium to empower children to advocate for animal rights. During October 2016, The Art for Animals Project visited 17 schools and presented an interactive program concerning the Five Animal Freedoms. During 2017, we will continue to use other forms of art to train young activists to educate others about important issues such as spay/neuter, the healing power of the human-animal bond, and animal rights. Our work will begin with the involvement of each of our animal kindness clubs in the design and painting of 17 murals in visible community locations.
Rescue and Outreach Fifteen graduates of our Comfort Dog Project were trained during 2016 to serve as The BIG FIX s new Field Educators. These passionate animal advocates work in eight villages per month and educate dog guardians one-on-one, with the aim of giving dogs a better life. The BIG FIX Uganda s Field Educators with CDP Program Manager Francis (third from right, front row). During December 2016 alone, our field educators replaced 414 chains, wires, and other dangerous neck restraints in addition to helping 735 guardians wash and groom their dogs. Our Field Educators also respond when rescue of an animal is needed. An example is Brenda, a female dog who had been discarded and was trying to fend for herself. Brenda fell into a deep latrine pit and was said to have been trapped there for 10 days, surviving on rainwater to keep her alive. When we received the report about Brenda, our Field Educators immediately organized her rescue and delivered her to the dog hospital for care. Brenda made a complete and speedy recovery.
Anywar Julius, BIG FIX s Rescue Coordinator, climbed down into a deep latrine pit to rescue Brenda. Improving Human-Animal Bonds During 2016, eight new Comfort Dogs were rehabilitated and placed with war trauma survivors. The new dog-guardian teams were mentored by 2015 program graduates and we had a 100% success rate in our training and certification of the new dogs. Through a deliberate program of activities and training, our new dog-guardian teams quickly developed strong bonds. Psychological assessment of the participants demonstrated measurable success of the program in decreasing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in all guardians. A total of 15 new dogs will be placed and trained during 2017. Our program graduates will be offered ongoing opportunities to work in schools and villages as animal advocates or train to become field
educators. The exceptional condition of the Comfort Dogs inspires many people to provide better care to their own dogs and to work with their dogs using only positive reinforcement. Healing War Trauma The Comfort Dogs Project s Community Psychologist holds group counseling sessions for war trauma survivors in ten villages per month. An average of 250 people per month regularly participate in these group counseling sessions, which offer the only available mental health assistance. Clients who are deemed suitable for dog guardianship are offered placement in our dog companionship program. Vet Doctor Training We continue to offer opportunities for vet students to work with us. During 2016, we hosted veterinary students from the University of Tennessee and Makerere University. Our aim is to improve the quality of veterinary doctors and to instill in them empathy for animals. We are grateful for the dedication to this goal which has been demonstrated by our Trustees Dr. James Okwee-Acai, Prof. Johnson Acon, and Dr. Benard Agwai (all of Makerere University s College of Veterinary Medicine) and Dr. Tony Aliro (Gulu District Veterinary Officer). Dr. Robert Omara observes canine dental procedure in the U.S. Our commitment to training also applies to our own doctors. Thanks to a grant from Humane Society International, Dr. Robert Omara participated in an
internship program with several specialty animal hospitals in the U.S. during May 2016. This planted seeds for improving our services in Northern Uganda. Meet Our Animal Caretaker, Kalvin Animals at The BIG FIX hospital get an extra dose of love and attention every day from our Animal Caretaker Kalvin. Kalvin s job is to make sure that all animals have clean lodging, fresh blankets, and scrubbed bowls. He cooks food daily for the dogs in our care and each animal receives personalized play time and walks, as their health allows. We knew Kalvin as a devoted dog caretaker before he became part of our team. As a war trauma survivor, Kalvin was one of the first participants in The Comfort Dog Project. He made a lifetime commitment to Hope (pictured with Kalvin to the left). Hope was a spunky little dog who was completely full of joy and possessed of energy that was challenging to contain at times. Kalvin was a patient and loving guardian and he was a huge success story for the human impact of The Comfort Dog Project. Tragically, Hope was killed last year by a neighbor who was annoyed by the dog and kicked her repeatedly and so severely that she died as a result of internal injuries caused. All of us, especially Kalvin, were devastated. Hope s death put a spotlight on the critical need to continue our education efforts until the day that acts of animal cruelty no longer occur in Uganda. The love Kalvin used to give to Hope he now gives to all the dogs at the BIG FIX hospital. In that way, Hope lives on. Many thanks to our 2016 donors and partners: Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Tony Aliro, Dr. James Okwee-Acai, Dr. Benard Agwai, Prof. Johnson Acon, Mega FM, Meg Daley Olmert, Bonnie Ladwig, Anonymous Donor in Northern California, Lisa Grusis, Melissa Latimer, Frances Monroe, Tricia Redeker- Hepner, Pamela and B.J. Runquist, Marcy Souza, Dr. Marianne Regnier, Claudine Chassigneux, Dr. Brenda Forsythe, Erica Knauf Santos, Leila Faber, Dogs Trust, Humane Society International, Bobby Raiford, Cat Whitney, Ann Lockhart, Andrea Kennedy, Corinna Minko, Angela Vera, Ellen Waggoner, Global Links, SNIP International, Lupine Pet, Sierra Vincent, Fetching Communications, Rose Esquer, Judy Hucka, Buffy Manners, Debra Whitney, Celia Lamaack, Nina Forrest, John Hinton, Denise Merz, Erika Quinn, Johnson & Jerome Johnson, Julia VanDerslice, Melinda Presley, Kory Rogers, Joni Angel, Sunny s Barber Shop, University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine, Posh Paws Petcare, Julia Hanebrink, Adam Willcox, Parks Foundation, SPCA International, Mission Rabies, Project V.E.T.S., Worldwide Veterinary Services, Mariann Goldeen, On Shore Foundation, and Thurston County Joint Animal Services.